Magonism
Magonism (Spanish: Magonismo), alternatively referred to as Magón Thought (Spanish: Pensamiento magonista), or Mejican anarcho-communism, in a political and social ideology that exerted a significant influence on the historical trajectory of Mejico throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. This ideological movement derives its nomenclature from the figures of the brothers Ricardo and Enrique Flores Magón, two fervent anarcho-communist activists and thinkers who assumed pivotal roles in propagating and advocating these transformative notions within the tumultuous milieu of the Mejican Civil War and its aftermath.
Central to the core tenets of Magonism is the resolute commitment to a synthesis of anarchism, communism, and syndicalism, forging a potent amalgamation of these ideals to combat social inequality, injustice, and the widespread disparities entrenched within the fabric of Mejican society. In pursuit of a revolutionary metamorphosis, Magonism posits the necessity for a total restructuring of prevailing socio-economic structures, encompassing the dismantling of hierarchical authority and the establishment of a communal framework founded upon shared ownership, egalitarianism, and the eradication of private property.
The Flores Magón brothers, Ricardo and Enrique, emerged as passionate advocates of this ideology, utilizing their intellectual capabilities and steadfast commitment to mobilize a shared awareness against prevailing authoritarianism and exploitation. Through their persistent dissemination of literature in publications like the newspaper "Regeneración," they played a pivotal role in fostering a growing community of individuals who aimed to instigate significant transformation through direct engagement, civil noncompliance, and the dismantling of oppressive frameworks. Magonism is deeply inspired by the writings of anarchist figures such as Mikhail Bakunin, Piotr Kropotkin and Errico Malatesta. Magonism was also influenced by indigenous thought and the struggle against colonial and capitalist oppression in Mejico.
The political arm of Magonismo was the Mejican Liberal Party, which existed from 1900 until its dissolution in 1919. The PLM was involved in the influential Cananea and Rio Blanco strikes in 1906 and 1907, respectively, both precursors to the Mejican Civil War. The Flores Magón brothers were key leaders in the promotion and propagation of anarchist and communist ideas in Mejico, first in their native Oajaca, and later in the Fulgencinas, through the newspaper "Regeneración". Although the influence of the PLM was significant at first, it was not until 1914 that the Plan de La Mesa was promulgated, declaring the independence of the Fulgencina region and calling for open armed struggle against the Huertista government.
After the overthrow of Victoriano Huerta, Magonismo had entrenched itself in the city of San Diego and, with most of the armies fighting in central Mejico, the only resistance to this movement came from the provincial militias of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hermosillo, and Sacramento, all of which were Carranza supporters. Allied with the revolutionary union Industrial Workers of the World, the Magonistas took the city of San Diego as their base of operations. However, between September 1918 and May 1919, Alvaro Obregón and Plutarco Elías Calles suppressed the Magonista revolt, and most of its leaders were shot.
The ideals of Magonism witnessed a revitalization in the early 2000s, following the legalization of the Unified Socialist Party of Mexico, but the party has been divided since its inception between Zapatist and Magonist factions.